The Adobe Acrobat User Community is a global resource for users of Acrobat and PDF, with free eseminars, tips, tutorials, videos and discussion forums. AcrobatUsers.com These forums are now Read Only. Find out how to activate (or sign in to) and deactivate (or sign out of) Adobe applications such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat DC, and Photoshop Elements. Activation connects an app to a valid user license. Find information on activating products for Creative Cloud, Acrobat DC, and CS6 and earlier. Manage your Adobe Account profile, password, security options, product and service subscriptions, privacy settings, and communication preferences.
On how many computers can I activate my apps? You can install your apps on multiple computers but activate them on two computers at a time. See On how many computers can I install my apps?
Why do I need to activate or deactivate my apps?
Activation validates your software license by contacting Adobe servers periodically. The frequency depends on the app and your plan.
Deactivation disconnects your app from your computer. You can then activate the apps on another computer or later reactivate them on the same computer.
Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet.
If prompted, sign in. Your app is now activated. Otherwise, choose one of the following options from the Help menu depending on your app:
If you see Sign Out in the menu option, it means you are already signed in.
Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet.
Open the app that you want to deactivate, and sign in if prompted.
Choose one of the following options from the Help menu depending on your app:
If you select Help > Deactivate choose one of the following options (when prompted):
Deactivate or Suspend Activation: Temporarily deactivates the app, but retains licensing information on your computer.
Deactivate permanently: Removes the licensing information from your computer and requires you enter a serial number to activate again.
If you still have issues in activating or deactivating your apps, see one of the following:
If you bought a new computer and want to transfer your apps to it, simply deactivate your apps from the old computer so that you can use them on the new computer.
Uninstalled or deleted your app?
Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional E License
Uninstalling or deleting the app from the old computer or formatting the computer does not deactivate the app.
Old computer no longer available?
If the computer on which you installed the product is no longer available (for example you have lost the computer or formatted the hard drive or the hard drive has crashed), you can deactivate your apps from the account management page. Then install the apps on the new computer and follow the onscreen instructions.
If you have more than one Adobe ID, check that you are logged into your account with the correct ID. If you are not logged in with the correct ID, sign out and then sign in to the Creative Cloud desktop app. For more details, see Stop Creative Cloud from showing trial mode after purchase.
If you have more than one Adobe ID, check that you are logged into your account with the correct ID. If you are logged in with the correct ID, sign out and then sign in to the Creative Cloud desktop app. For more details see Stop Creative Cloud from showing trial mode after purchase.
Uninstalling an app from a computer does not deactivate its license. You may still install the app on the new computer. When prompted to sign in, follow the onscreen instructions to deactivate the app on the old computer.
Still facing problems? See Activation and deactivation troubleshooting.
Information stored on your device during Activation
Activation stores information about your license in encoded form on the system hard drive of your computer at the following locations:
Application version | Storage location |
| Prior to Creative Cloud 2019 | Adobe directory |
| Creative Cloud 2019 or later | Per-user OS secure storage using credential entries whose names start with Adobe at the following locations:
|
The following types of information may be sent to Adobe during activation:
- Unique IDs (generated by Adobe) specific to your machine and to the license you have purchased for the software. These IDs cannot be used to locate your machine or identify you personally.
- Your Adobe ID, if you have logged in to Adobe as part of the installation, update, or use of the Adobe software. The Adobe ID personally identifies you, and links to all information that you have provided to Adobe while creating or using your Adobe account. If you or your company uses an administrator or other authorized party for the foregoing, Adobe may also receive the Adobe ID of that party.
- Operating system type and version
- Locale (language dialect and writing system) in use
- Local machine time (including time zone)
- Machine ID
- Machine name
- Application name and version
- Locale (language dialect and writing system) in use
- Internet Explorer version
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Adobe Acrobat 8 E License
Some volume licensing customers sees an e-license agreement on initial launch of Adobe Acrobat, and it prompts them to download a license file in order for the product to work.
Customers who experience this behaviour have typically been sent the incorrect media. Although the solution below will fix the immediate problem, you should work with the Customer Relations team to ensure that you have the proper media.
Place the AdobeConfig.xml file inside the Acrobat installation source directory.
- Download the AdobeConfig.zip file and extract the AdobeConfig.xml file.
- Before you install Acrobat, place the AdobeConfig.xml file inside the Acrobat installation source directory. This is the root directory which contains the Setup.exe file used to install Acrobat.
The contents of the XML file will direct the setup process to suppress the e-license download prompt.
Adobe Acrobat 8 E-license
The process of downloading the e-license is not required for volume licensing customers, some of whom might wish to suppress this prompt and allow their users to start using Acrobat without downloading the e-license.